Food Truck Wars

Learning Approach: Problem Solving

| Sheraton New Orleans, Bayside | Posted: Sunday, 8:00-11:00 a.m.

Food trucks have exploded on city streets across the U.S., fostered by an economy that gives way to entrepreneurs, but most downtowns react to their presence with uncertainty. Do we want food trucks downtown? Will they kill local businesses? Will they help the local economy? Do we have ordinances that address food trucks? Find out how to encourage these entrepreneurial efforts without detracting from existing downtown businesses. Participate in the food truck wars in a roundtable approach to problem-solving and then compare it to various approaches used by other communities to slice up the downtown pie.

Learning Objectives:

Identify pros and cons to food trucks.

Hear about regulations from a diverse mix of communities.

Get real life perspectives on food truckin.'

Understand how to evaluate and assess what will work for your community

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Cristina Sheppard-Decius, CMSM, has been the Executive Director of the Ferndale DDA for 11 years, received certification from the National Main Street Center as a CMSM in 2005, and was one of Crain's Detroit Business 40 Under 40 of 2009. She has a B.A. in Public Relations from Western Michigan University and over 19 years of experience in public relations, marketing, volunteer organizations and economic development. The DDA is a non-profit public entity created to revitalize and manage Downtown Ferndale. Under her leadership, Downtown Ferndale has transformed into a thriving downtown in the Metro Detroit area and has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade with over 175 building improvements and $57 million in reinvestment as part of Main Street Oakland County, and was recently honored as one of five Great American Main Streets in the nation by the National Trust Main Street Center. The Ferndale DDA has also received National Main Street Certification for the last five years, Main Street Oakland County designation in 2001, and a Cool Cities designation in 2004. Through Sheppard-Decius' efforts, the Ferndale DDA and city at-large has received over $1,000,000 in grants and in-kind services, including Federal TEA-21 grants for streetscape improvements, a Preserve America grant and Cool Cities grants. Sheppard-Decius serves on a variety of Board of Directors and works tirelessly with many local organizations, including Woodward Avenue Action Association, Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Downtown Association (MDA), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Michigan Alliance, Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Destination Districts and Michigan Economic Development Association (MEDA).